Curtis Blaydes views his upcoming fight as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and someone with a broader skillset. Blaydes clearly positions himself as the more skilled fighter with multiple tools at his disposal. He expects an aggressive start from his opponent Josh Hewitt with significant pressure early. The post includes a poll asking fans to predict whether the fight will end in the first round, second round, or go to a decision.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear he holds a significant skill edge over Josh Hewitt ahead of their upcoming heavyweight bout, framing the matchup as a contest between a versatile, multi-dimensional fighter and a more limited opponent.
Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," enters the fight ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division with a professional record of 19-6. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers. He averages an impressive 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy — a combination that makes him a threat across multiple phases of a fight.
In his own words, Blaydes positioned himself as the fighter with more tools available, describing Hewitt as one-dimensional. He also acknowledged that Hewitt is likely to come out aggressive and apply heavy pressure in the early rounds, suggesting he has given his opponent's style serious consideration heading into the contest.
Josh Hewitt does not appear in the verified fighter database, limiting what can be confirmed about his record and background at this time.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance keeps him in title contention
- His elite takedown volume could neutralize a pressure-heavy, forward-moving style
- Blaydes publicly signaling confidence in a style mismatch adds intrigue to how the early rounds unfold
